Babylon Whores is Finnish band who play "death-rock" exclusively. Our subject
of interrogation was Antti Litmanen, the guitarist of the band who provided thought provoking answers to my interrogation..
0. First, how are you feeling Antti, this autumnal day/night? Any news from the Babylonian Lair?
"It is quite late. I just finished a cup of lotus root tea and am
feeling OK, the cat's prancing around the room and so on. Babylon
Whores are/should be putting together the songs for the upcoming
second album as well as moving to another place from our stinking
rehearsal dungeon. We'll be again sharing premises with dark metal
maestros Thy Serpent. Oh, and we're looking forward to a festival date
in Latvia in two weeks' time! Got to invade a liquor store on the way
to get a bottle or two of that wicked Riga Black Balsam!
"
0.5 I presume our readers wouId like to know your bands history, in brief?
"Ike and Ewo formed the band several years ago, released a 7"
"Devil's Meat" and a mini-cd "Sloane 313" with the first line-up.
I joined three years ago, just in time to get another mini-cd,
"Trismegistos" together with the guys. For "Cold Heaven" album we signed
to Heroine/Misanthropy. That record is still tolerable, even if it could've
had more of the trancey mood evident on the latter part of the record.
After "Deggial" sessions we got rid of the old drummer and got Pete, the
original one back. Inbetween the records, there's been loads of gigs ranging
from abysmally bad to great, a few arguments, lost minds, whatever. The usual
things a band as a collective attracts. "
1. You have just released Deggael MCD after the Cold Heaven. What kind
of feedback have you have received from it. Has it sold well?
Despite this strange fixation most journalists seem to have that we've
gone totally gothic the feedback has been encouraging. The sales
figures remain yet to be seen because it only came out very recently
overseas. I doubt we will ever cater for the masses, though. It's an
exclusive weasel cult. In Finland, it has sold the usual few hundred so
far, nothing spectacular. "
2.You were once in Finnish "Helsingin Sanomien Kuukausiliite" (a finnish newspaper),
how did they ask you to represent Finnish underground rock?
"I understand somebody asked for a not very nice, downright rocking
group and our name came up. Dumb but fun."
3. You have a song called Sol Niger in Deggael MCD - is it reference to
the Occultic Black Sun, perhaps?
"One of them, yes. The Black Sun in the song is to be seen in the light of
Alchemy."
4. What are your views concerning judeo-christianity and it's degrading
influence on our culture and world history?
"The pre- and early Xtian Gnostic sects are interesting, but it's gone
downhill ever since: the marriage of Christianity and politics has been
sealed with many a sacrament of innocent blood. The overzealous church
in its ruthless hunger for power has crushed noble cultures, destroyed
invaluable knowledge and remains a rather bad idea to this day."
5. You have a reputation of Occultists. Ike's lyrics are full of references to
different fields of the Occult. Is this intended or does it come naturally?
Ike's lyrics come naturally. And in case anyone was wondering, not all of
Babylon Whores give a shit about the occult, but we do agree on Ike's lyrics
being spot on."
6. What are your views concerning judeo-christianity and it's influence
on our culture and history?
The pre- and early Xtian Gnostic sects are interesting, but it's gone
downhill ever since: the marriage of Christianity and politics has been
sealed with many a sacrament of innocent blood. The overzealous church
in its ruthless hunger for power has crushed noble cultures, destroyed
invaluable knowledge and remains a rather bad idea to this day.
5,5. In your lyrics Babylon is mentioned many times. Your band's name
is Babylon Whores. Correct if I am wrong in two matters : Babylon
whores are biblical reference.. Do you have somekind of fascination
on the Sumerians and Babylonian culture?
"Babylon Whores is a biblical reference, even though on a level of metaphor
not limited to that. Sumerian and Babylonian cultures are of a considerable
interest, but not to the point of fascination."
7. What is your opinion of psychedelic drugs, any personal experiences?
"Sometimes it seems that people have never been so far removed from altered
states of consciousness as they are nowadays, but also that they've never so
keen on fucking up their minds. Most would do better without ANY drugs. All
abuse is just sad and stupid, and you do see enough burned out
fools on the streets of Helsinki, believe me! Anyway, condemning
psychedelics
intrinsically is a more complex issue than that and to do that would also
mean
ignoring a large part of history. The whole history of mankind, to be
precise.
The danger presented to the modern man is the fact that
they challenge the safe, nice and easy approach to the surrounding nature
and
cosmos which is cherished as "reality". And that, unlike alcohol (which
certainly is a drug, albeit a dulling one), is always a threat to a society
like we
are living in, which is built on materialism and values of little or no
substance.
One friend was asking about these small stone mushroom deities in an
exhibition of Mexican artefacts because there was no information on them,
and
got replied by a staff member that they don't really feel comfortable
telling
about them to the general public, because it wouldn't be able to handle the
whole thing. On the other hand the same general public has no problems
swallowing the stories about human sacrifice, which I think gives a pretty
good
idea of this odd mentality.
As for personal experiences, they are just that - personal. Sorry."
8. Nationalism has raised it's head on the Extreme Metal Scene, many blackmetal
bands have claimed to be "nazis", what do you think of this phenomenon?
"A healthy pride in your roots is OK by me
and I love my country. That is one thing,
but
racial discrimination and quasi-NSDAP
politics I can not identify with. It is a
bit
amusing, not to say weak and hypocritical,
how these Nazi-wannabes claim to be so
proud of their "superior" culture and
country,
yet seem to be unsure whether those will
be
able to survive a meeting with a different
culture. Besides, regional inbreeding
leads to
cellular mutations, not a good start for the creation of an Aryan
ubermensch,
eh? Get a life: an average black metal nerd would be the first in line to go
were
there a new Reich. Anyway, I spit on any political agenda, left or right,
which
seeks to infringe upon me doing my True Will. The whole Nazi trend was
yawn-inducingly predictable, what other taboo would be left after the
killings
and burnt churches? The persons we are talking about would be better off
overcoming
their egos first and not read their Nietzsche like the Devil would read
the Bible... pun fully intended. The resurgence of nazism does, in a
distorted way,
reflect the re-awakening of European mythos in general. It cannot be
understood
in plainly political terms. But that is beside the point here."
9. I got the impression that you and Ike in the band atleast, consider yourselves as
Occultists. Is this true? Do you believe in the Magick?
"Having spent the best part of my life in search of alternatives to the
stagnant
braindead, MTV-fed worldview, I see no problem considering myself as an
occultist. The same goes for Ike, I suppose... Occult - "hidden". Also for
myself as a practising magician it is not a question of believing in magick
but
living it."
10. Aleister Crowleys Works (which are referenced your lyrics) are inspired of Jewish
Kabbala. Christianity is bastard child of Judaism. I assume you are to some point anti-christianity
yourselves, how come you then honor A.Crowley?
"To stop thinking through typical Christian juxtaposition of black and white
would give you a head start with this one! First of all, I am against the
organised form of Christianity as far as it enslaves people. Kabbala is an
amazingly sophisticated set of thought which draws from a variety of
sources:
Jewish, Greek, Middle-Eastern and Egyptian... to start with!(One can easily
have the impression that Kabbala is solely Jewish tradition.. -Ed) In the
form of Tree of Life glyph, it presents one of the most convenient ways to
map
out the Magical Universe and abstract philosophical concepts. If one's
personal aversion to Christianity prevents him/her from approaching Kabbala,
then clearly their vision is not quite mature. By the way, Crowley has made
a number of
blatantly antisemitic comments himself, which hasn't been a problem to a few
thelemite Jews I know. Thelema needs no slaves or "Crowley-worship". We
do not "honor" Crowley in our lyrics, but he is one of the figures you just
can't
pass by when it comes to modern occultism. I consider his attainments great
on many fields and some of his writing is genuinely brilliant." (This was
bit of a
far fetched pun question asked from a viewpoint of a "hard-core
anti-christian person".. -Ed)
(Some people may have
subconsciously avoided Kabbala becouse of it's association with Jews and
X-tianity.)
"Yeah, I know and that's their way. A lot of people are preoccupied with
questions
of purity and authenticity, which does have its place, but Kabbala in its
modern
manifestation is quite simply a very comprehensive way to pull things
together -
whatever, if any, value you put on its mystical import. Neo-platonic and
gnostic
thought pervades it more than any orthodox religion, in any case.
(Not that it consciously prevents them from approaching Kabbala,
though there are many other "Sets of thoughts" than Kabbala that one may
find even more interesting.. -Ed)
"Naturally so. The world is a complex place, has always been. Some
traditions
take on different guises at different times. I am quite eclectic in my
approaches
to world history in general and to occult currents in particular. Some do
overlap
at points, some just don't. Voodoo, runes, northern shamanism & witchcraft
all
have something going for them which I find worthwile, just for an example. I
find
limiting yourself (makes no sense in an infinite cosmos, does it?) or
getting stuck
with any particular way of thinking just for the sake of comfort or laziness
abhorrent.
What works, works, and will prove itself in time. The rest is cast aside.
Stagnation
breeds idiots.
11. Death will someday part us of our lives, how do you see our Harvester ov Souls?
Do you think that afterlife would be possible?
"Death is already a part of our lives. Decay is everywhere. Death can be
many things, a blessing, a tragedy or a Muse. Afterlife, why not?
Linear time is only a convenient means we have created to avoid taxing our
minds too much. Even if that is also a nice way to avoid a definite answer.
I don't have such."
12. Are you interested in philosophy, do you have any favourite philosophers?
"A loud "yes" to the first question, "not really" to the second. I have read your
basic Nietzsche and Schopenhauer etc. like everyone, but have no special expertise
or fascination in anyone. I am interested in life in general, perhaps. "
13. What is your life's motto?
"No single "guiding light", sorry!"
14. You must have read works by the Master of the Macabre, namely H.P.Lovecraft...
What do like about his Mythos?
"Yes, I have read all of Lovecraft's published novels, some poetry, also bits
and pieces from persons immediatily influenced by him like Clark Ashton
Smith. Lovecraft's books are a goldmine of delirious visions and charmingly
pompous prose. I admit they had a lot more fascination for me when I was
younger, but they still do have that haunting vibe I yearn for in weird
tales.
In fact, precisely the mood and mythos are the main point of concern for me
in
Lovecraft's work these days, apart from the actual stories. The horror
aspect of
human race being just so utterly insignificant on a cosmic scale is the main
thing
which still fascinates people about Lovecraft: their own fear of the void,
the primal
darkness which begins just outside the door. In a way, the final frontier
has taken
the place the wild woods once had. Though, make no mistake, Nature is still
harsh
in its ways, with beauty that is quite detached from the silly postcard
scenery gloss
and much for impressive also. The old gods, like Cthulhu, might be sleeping,
yet
a night in the woods should convince anyone but the deaf and dumb that Pan
is not
dead. Anyway, to conclude, there is much in good ol' Lovecraft which has
value
besides that of the literary kind, which can admittedly be questioned."
15. Tell us your opinions of following things (in brief) :
Overpopulation
The most probable way this planet is going to be ruined with.
Cosmos
Within reach.
Humans as species
Losing direction.
Suicide
That's your choice.
"Parapsychological Phenomenon"
I don't have much use for the term.
Satanism (the real one, no BM stuff)
Depends on definition.
16. What does "Trismegistos" and "Deggael" mean? You seem to have many
'strange' references in your lyrics, how come?
"Trismegistos" is a gentle nod of acknowledgment in the direction
of Hermes Thrice-Great, the mythical author of The Emerald Tablet and
originator of the western occult sciences. Incidentally, all sorts of
triplicities seemed to be popping up all over the record.
"Deggael" is Ike's modification of one of the names for the Antichrist
among Mohammedan writers. A bit obscure, really. Email us if you find out
more. The strange references, (Well they are strange to most of my readers, I presume.. -Ed) as you call them, are there because the overall
framework calls for them. It is that simple. Mythology and symbol are
means to painting a bigger picture, applying straight to deeper strata of
consciousness."
17. You Antti, have done lyrics for Thy Serpent's Forests of Witchery
CD, namely Only Dust Moves Here.. Can you tell what it is about?
Have done more lyrics than that? What you think about T.Mäensivu's/Myst's
lyrics on the second Thy Serpent?
"I did 4/5 of "FoW" lyrics. "Only Dust Moves" is a little angst-ridden tale
touching subjects like betrayal etc. Can't remember exactly, it's been some
time... I have done some lyrics apart from those but they remain
unpublished,
apart from some ages old ones which I am not too proud of in any case. Well,
I did contribute a lyric entitled "Summer's End" to the forthcoming Amorphis
album as a favour to Pasi and it is OK, by my standards anyway.
I glanced through this Myst guy's lyrics once or twice. I can't say they
meant
anything to me. His english isn't correct either. But he seems to have a lot
of
ideas and ambition. That's good."
18. Sub-Fennica has reached the end of this interrogation,
before we can hear your last tortured words Sub-Fennica thanks you
for your time...
"Tortured? It wasn't that unbearable. Reading this might be more tortuous.
Thanks for taking interest."
Interview by : Scorpius ov Nighraeth
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